Robert HeronDell W5001CThe Dell W5001C, the company's first 50-inch plasma display, is a disappointment. Viewing HD video via component input or HDMI produced a picture that was vertically squeezed, and shadows and other dark detail in the videos we watched were marred by severe color shifts.

The Dell W5001C, the company's first 50-inch plasma display, is a disappointment. Viewing HD video via component input or HDMI produced a picture that was vertically squeezed, and shadows and other dark detail in the videos we watched were marred by severe color shifts.

The Dell W5001C 50-inch High Definition Plasma ($3,799 list) represents the company's first foray into 50-inch territory. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. Image quality with most analog sources was noisy, and all inputs introduced color errors and other artifacts into video containing dark scenes. Worst of all, HD video viewed via component input or HDMI produced a picture that was vertically squeezed, resulting in flattened imagery. The W5001C offers above-average audio quality for a TV, but we've seen better deals on similarly sized plasmas that deliver the picture quality you'd expect from a high-definition display.

Setting up the W5001C was simplified by a factory-attached table stand. A pair of tall, slender 20-watt (40 watts total) stereo speakers can be attached to the sides of the TV or mounted on the included table stand. Dell has a history of building its plasma TVs with above-average quality audio, and we found that the W50001C's speakers produced a pleasingly warm sound with good bass response for TV speakers.

The remote control bundled with the W5001C is a slender, backlit design that's comfortable to hold and operate with one hand. It took some time to get used to the location of its menu-navigation controls, at the top of the remote, as the circular control pad in the center is used for channel and volume adjustments. The remote provides no learning or other universal control functions, but we had no trouble programming our Harmony 659 remote to work with the W5001C.

The W5001C's 50-inch screen provides a native resolution of 1,366 by 768 pixels. The main A/V input block is centered on the rear of the display along the lower edge and includes two HDMI inputs, two sets of component inputs, and a VGA input for PC use. A secondary A/V input block conveniently located on the right side of the display provides S-Video and composite video inputs. The W5001C features integrated digital and analog TV tuners that were effective at receiving our local broadcast stations. Its lack of a CableCard slot shouldn't be a concern for most people.

For PC use, the W5001C's VGA input offered the best viewing experience with detailed imagery and no sign of overscan (picture stretched beyond the edges of the active portion of the display). Digital PC input is possible using a DVI-to-HDMI cable, but full-screen, progressive resolution support is reduced slightly, to 1,280 by 720 (720p) pixels. This resulted in an overscanned picture that lacked the clarity of TV's VGA input. Unfortunately, HD input (PC or video) via HDMI or component video produced an image that was stretched horizontally, making the picture look vertically squeezed (incorrect aspect ratio). This problem appeared at both 720p and 1080i video resolutions, and the W5001C's lack of image-size controls left us no way to compensate for the flattened picture.

We were disappointed with the W5001C's out-of-the-box picture quality. Blacks were grayish, and there was obvious banding (false contouring) in videos containing scenes with finely graduated light-to-dark transitions. The picture improved after calibration, but the banding persisted. In addition, a reddish-purple color was apparent in shadows and other dark portions of the picture. This clearly inaccurate representation distracted from the viewing experience.

The W5001C is a classic case of where the lab results don't tell the whole story. It produced an impressive ANSI contrast ratio of 953:1, and its image uniformity ranked among the best we've seen. Color-gamut measurements revealed an overemphasized green that was shifted slightly toward blue. Blue was slightly lacking, but this is common with most televisions. Color-tracking measurements revealed blues were overemphasized at the dark end of the scale while greens were underemphasizedthe cumulative result being a reddish-purple color that correlated well with our subjective viewing experience. In comparison, the Vizio P50 HDM produced a slightly lower contrast ratio and similar color-gamut results, but color tracking was very consistent, with none of the distracting errors we saw on the W5001C.

On the HQV Benchmark DVD, which provides a good measurement for how well a particular high-definition TV will look when viewing regular television, the Dell W5001C scored below average. This is partly because it has no noise-reduction controls. The HQV test for noise reduction in scenes containing motion uses a static shot of a roller coaster track with a background containing mostly blue skies and clouds that are laden with noise artifacts. Every time the roller coaster entered the frame, the W5001C would cause the noise artifacts to pulse, as if some ineffective form of noise reduction were enabled and disabled repeatedly. The Vizio P50 had its own issues with motion-adaptive noise-reduction, but it provided user controls that helped it score well with the other HQV noise-reduction tests. In addition, the P50 did better at suppressing the jagged-edge artifacts that can occur when deinterlacing is not properly performed. On a positive note, the W5001C's 3:2 pulldown function engaged quickly, preserving detail and minimizing moiré artifacts in the HQV test's film-sourced racetrack scene.

We talked to Dell about the color problems we encountered with the W5001C, and the company is aware of the issues. It is trying to figure out how to resolve them, by either a firmware update or combination of settings to minimize the problem.

The Dell W5001C's overall image quality was a disappointment, an almost unforgivable thing in a high-definition display. The unit's decent TV tuners and audio performance were completely overshadowed by its inability to scale HD imagery properly when using HDMI or component-video inputs. The color shifts we noted in shadows or other dark detail were an additional distraction that sealed the W5001C's fate. The Vizio P50 HDM is another 50-inch plasma TV that lists for more than $1,000 less than the W5001C, and it provides consistently good image quality. Which one would you recommend to a friend?

Dell W5001C

Bottom Line: The Dell W5001C, the company's first 50-inch plasma display, is a disappointment. Viewing HD video via component input or HDMI produced a picture that was vertically squeezed, and shadows and other dark detail in the videos we watched were marred by severe color shifts.

Dell W5001C

Dell W5001C

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.